The start of 2025 is bringing new leadership changes to Women in Eyecare (WiE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and fostering support for women in the eyecare industry.
Let’s start with a rundown on WiE.
Established in 2023 in South Florida, WiE was founded by three industry professionals (among other board members):
- Analisa Arosmena, MD
- Diana Shechtman, OD, FAAO
- Ana Carolina Victoria, MD, FACS
Its purpose: The nonprofit is working to promote and support “collaborative care” among women involved in the eyecare industry—from optometrists (ODs) and ophthalmologists (MDs) to industry professionals.
- Check out its annual and chapter sponsors (including Alcon and Glaukos, respectively).
And its vision?
Per WiE, it’s striving to “provide an open platform where women (and men!) in eyecare will find career growth opportunities, professional support, and the opportunity to collaborate cross-functionally.”
Nice! Now talk about this leadership news…
Effective this month, WiE’s new president is Elise Kramer, OD, FAAO, FSLS, a practicing OD at the Miami Contact Lens Institute in Miami, Florida, specializing in:
- Ocular surface disease (OSD)
- Specialty contact lens design and fitting
As WiE’s former vice president, Dr. Kramer is also the newly-appointed president of the Scleral Lens Education Society (SLES) and a member of several international industry organizations.
Who else is on WiE’s leadership team?
Joining Dr. Kramer are the following executives:
- Vice President: Ana Carolina Victoria, MD, FACS
- Secretary: La Cendra Morrison (Penny)
- Treasurer: Francessca Piedra, OD, ABOC, NCLEC, FNAO, WCO, CLSA
Now to membership.
While the organization’s name may imply otherwise, WiE is open to both men and women within the eyecare industry. “It’s not an exclusive group,” Dr. Kramer said. “We would love to have more male members supporting us.”
She added: “We try to empower the women in our industry by focusing on their career paths or their journeys, their hardships, and also supporting each other. So if someone has a question or a concern or some sort of thing that they need assistance with. We're here to support each other.”
- Editor’s note: Read our coverage on the rise of women within the optometric profession in recent decades.
So what goes into becoming a member?
For an annual price of $100 per year, members receive the following benefits:
- Exclusive lecture invitations
- Free CE/CME dinner meetings
- Access to non-medical lectures
- Complimentary annual meeting registration
- Community of dedicated professionals
- Networking opportunities
- Quick access to colleagues
- Knowledge sharing and research
- Mentorship and leadership learning
- Enhanced presentation skills
- WiE net email addresses
In addition, members have access to exclusive resources such as job placement assistance and updates on eyecare information.
And how do members stay connected?
Digital: With a presence on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, WiE members are also invited to join the organization's WhatsApp group—intended as a “supportive network” for colleagues to offer referrals and champion each other.
In-person: WiE has recently expanded its chapter outreach across the United States to Southern California and New York (check out its grand opening from September 2024).
Any upcoming events to know about?
Yes! A membership drive was originally scheduled to kick off this Sunday, Jan. 12, in Long Beach, California.
However, due to the current wildfire crisis in Southern California, the event is being postponed with a to-be-determined (TBD) date.
Details on how to register for this inaugural celebration of the Southern California chapter of WiE can be found here.
- And check back at that link for updates on a rescheduled date!
And in March, WiE will host a benefit for current members in Miami, Florida.
The event: Attendees will hear from Donna Milewski, retired senior vice president of sales operations at Analytical Graphics, who will speak on her career in the male-dominated industry of aerospace engineering.
Scheduled for Thursday, March 20; details will follow on the WiE events calendar.
Speaking of expanding …
WiE is also on the lookout for nominations to join its Greater Board of industry professionals.
With nine positions currently open, the organization is inviting non-OD and non-MD industry professionals within eyecare to become Board members.
So how do I join?
Click here to inquire about becoming a Board member.
And click here for details on how to become a member of WiE.
Lastly, what makes this organization unlike others in the industry?
“This group is all inclusive of anyone who's in vision care, and I think that's what sets WiE apart,” said Maureen Trusky, director of WiE.
“WiE takes all avenues of women who are passionate in eye care—whether it's ophthalmology, optometry, or industry—and realizes that there is benefit and there's beauty in bringing those avenues together instead of keeping them isolated,” said Jenna Platt, director of Mo. Events.